“Okay…Myles…Who was that?”
“I…I don’t know...”
“They…Tried to kill us…” She cries harder, and her eyes are becoming more bloodshot. “What if they’re up there…What if they’re coming for me…Us…What if…”
“Sunshine!” I shout, trying to snap her attention so she stops spiraling. Her eyes focus on me as I touch her face. “I need you to breathe for me.” She takes a slow, stuttered breath. Her face pinches in pain. I’m assuming her ribs might be bruised as well from the rollover.
She takes a few more deep breaths, and I watch her body relax as she starts to calm down.
“Good girl. Just keep breathing for me. I’m going to push up against you so that when the belt unbuckles, I will catch you, okay?”
“Okay. Myles?”
“Yes, Sunshine.”
“I love you.” She pulls her bottom lip in as she tries not to cry.
“Hey. Don’t you dare give up. I’m going to get us out of here! I love you, too, but don’t you dare fucking give up!”
She closes her eyes and nods.
This is going to hurt like a bitch. I get underneath her and brace myself against the dash. I click the buckle and let her slowly lower against me. I can feel my ribs burning in pain. I bite my lip so hard to keep from screaming that I can taste the warm, coppery tang of fresh blood. I lower her until her feet are in the water and she’s standing on the frame of the door.
I quickly take off my shirt to wrap it around her. Her dress barely covers anything now, and I don’t want anyone seeing her like this.
“Myles…” she gasps.
“What?” I look to where she’s looking at my side at the gash that is bleeding horribly. My dress shirt is black, so I didn’t even notice.
“It’s okay, Mina. I’m fine. Let’s get out of here,” I lie.
I step out of the broken-open windshield, being careful of the shards of glass and twisted metal. I turn and take her hand to help her out of the car. Her eyes keep bouncing from my face to my side. I can feel warm blood continuing to leak as I lift her to carry her to shore. It’s going to be okay. It has to be. The universe wouldn’t do this to us twice.
I place her on the shore and then drop to my knees. My chest hurts and I feel nauseous. She drops to her knees next to me and cups my face.
“We have to get up to the road. I don’t know if anyone saw what happened,” I say as I struggle to stand. She pushes herself under my arm and helps me get my footing. We continue to struggle to get up the damp embankment. I slip a few times, but she helps me, and together we make it.
“You’re going to be okay, Myles. Don’t you dare fucking leave me again. You promised.” She gets up to the edge and looks back at the river below.
“I’m not going anywhere,” I groan as I crawl up the last foot onto level ground.
“You’re not…But she is,” a voice seethes in the darkness. Interior lights flick on as the driver's side door opens, and the man starts walking toward us
“Quin? What the fuck…” Mina starts, but he grabs her by the hair and yanks her to her knees.
“Shut the fuck up!” he screams, and I watch the color drain from her face.
“Quin. What the fuck do you want?” I shout. All I can see is red as he holds her in place.
“I want to know what happened the night you killed Declan…” He rips her by the hair and forces her to stand. “And you’re going to tell me.”
She screams for me as he pulls her away.
“Quin! I’m the one you want. Let her go and I’ll tell you everything.” I try to stand, but the pain is so excruciating that I fall back to my knees.
“You’re next on my list, Langston…But first, I need to deal with the traitorous bitch who turned her back on my brother.”
I can only watch as he yanks her and throws her into the passenger side of the truck. She tries to get out, but hepulls a gun and points it directly at her face. My world stops when I see him point it at her. I can't hear what he tells her, but she suddenly stops and slumps in the seat with her eyes locked on mine. He slams the door shut and begins to walk back to the open driver's side door. He stops and turns back to me with a maniacal grin on his smug face.
